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The final phase of the project was the location, identification and evaluation of anyhomestead remains. This was accomplished through aerial survey and examinationof aerial photographs of the fort to discern visible traces of buildings and/or fields,and by consulting with people who are familiar with the Fort Richardson landscape.Bill Quirk, who has worked on the post for many years, was essential inlocating the remaining buildings and field traces.4<strong>Homesteads</strong> on Fort RichardsonAlaska
Chapter 3.0 The EnvironmentFort Richardson consists of 61,000 acres of land immediately east of ElmendorfAir Force Base and west of Eagle River. It extends from Knik Arm south across theChugach Mountains and approximately two miles south of Anchorage. On the easternborder is one of the largest parks in the country, Chugach State Park. The adjoiningareas are largely free of development and combine to create a long stretchof undisturbed wilderness. The fort encompasses a range of geographical featuresand environments, though the majority of the land lies within the Anchorage lowlands500 feet above sea level.The different environmental zones of Fort Richardson can largely be distinguishedon the elevation of the land. At the lower elevations, a zone of white and blackspruce forests covers the majority of the undeveloped land. Forests are broken upby areas of brush near lakes and creeks and between the tree line and tundra areas.The tree line for the Chugach Mountains is at 3,500 to 4,000 feet. Above the treeline is a zone of arctic tundra consisting of low-lying shrubs, heavy moss, grass,and several varieties of berries. The highest elevations are a zone of barren rockwith no vegetation. 1The fort is dotted with many lakes, creeks and rivers of various sizes. Most notableare Eagle River and Ship Creek, which flow from the mountains into Knik Arm,and Otter Lake located in the northeastern area of the post. Marshes are foundalong Knik Arm, near Eagle River, and around lakes and ponds throughout thepost.The Anchorage climate is moderate year round except for the occasional cold snapin winter. Mild weather can be attributed to the mountains of the Alaska Rangewhich prevent the influx of extremely cold air into the area. Temperatures in Anchoragerange from 4 degrees Fahrenheit to 66 degrees Fahrenheit. 2 Average annualprecipitation is fifteen inches. Forty percent of the precipitation falls in summerand forty percent in winter, averaging 72 inches of snow per year. The shortautumn and spring seasons remain relatively dry. 3A wide variety of wildlife is found on Fort Richardson, which may have been evenmore extensive before the establishment of the fort. Small mammals such as vole,lemming, shrew and squirrel are abundant. Larger animals such as black bear, brownbear, moose, rabbit, fox, wolf, and Dall sheep are also found. 4 Waterfowl are plentiful,particularly on the Eagle River Flats. The flats are an extremely importantestuarine salt marsh for many varieties of ducks, birds, geese and ptarmigan. Salmon1Julia Steele, Archaeological Survey and Cultural Resources Overview, Fort Richardson, Alaska(Alaska District: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 1980) p. 1-4.2Paula Daugherty and Becky Saleby, Elmendorf Air Force Base Homestead Study (Alaska SupportOffice: National Park Service, 1998) p. 3.3Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan 1998-2003 (U.S. Army Alaska, Volume 2-FortRichardson) p. 7-12.4Steele, Archaeological Survey and Cultural Resources Overview, Fort Richardson, Alaska. p. 5.<strong>Homesteads</strong> on Fort RichardsonAlaska5
Page 3 and 4: Homesteads onFort
Page 5: table of contentsCHAPTERS1.0 INTROD
Page 8: may have homesteaded in the area an
Page 15 and 16: Chapter 4.0Early PeopleIt is though
Page 17 and 18: Chapter 5.0AnchorageThe history of
Page 19 and 20: profitable. 32 Ohlson tried, as had
Page 21 and 22: Chapter 6.0World War II and FortEst
Page 23 and 24: Fort Richardson was originally what
Page 25 and 26: Chapter 7.0HomesteadingHomesteading
Page 27 and 28: unsurveyed, a physical description
Page 29 and 30: son. Anchorage was just established
Page 31 and 32: 0 1 2 Miles0 1 2 3 KilometersMap 2.
Page 33 and 34: x 32', which had fallen into disrep
Page 35 and 36: 0 1 2 Miles0 1 2 3 KilometersMap 3.
Page 37 and 38: Map 4: Homesteads
Page 39 and 40: eauty shop in downtown Anchorage. P
Page 41 and 42: The children attended high school.
Page 43 and 44: Chambers built a 12' x 18' log hous
Page 45 and 46: accomplished musician. He played th
Page 47 and 48: William and Lily StoltBill was born
Page 49 and 50: George JohnstonGeorge Johnston file
Page 51 and 52: Folberg. Mannick sold the land to t
Page 53 and 54: Chapter 8.0National Registerof Hist
Page 55 and 56: Hoserud, Robert Prizer, John Thomps
Page 57 and 58: The south room has four bunk bed fr
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ReferencesAir Force History. United
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Other Sources1920 US CensusBureau o
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APPENDIX A: Abbreviations and Acron
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Appendix b:APPENDIX A: Abbreviation
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Fort RichardsonHOMESTEAD RECORDProp
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Appendix c:Records of Unperfected F
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Appendix d:Land Acquisition and Dis
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Map 5. Land Acquisition/Disposal Hi
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Index of HomesteadersCampbell, 26,
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